NFL confirms Bengals-Falcons fixture at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu for 2026 season
The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Atlanta Falcons in Spain on 8 November 2026, marking the franchise’s third regular-season international appearance.
The National Football League has scheduled the Cincinnati Bengals to play the Atlanta Falcons at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 8 November 2026. The match, set for a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff, will be broadcast on the NFL Network and forms part of the league’s 2026 International Games slate. This fixture represents the Bengals’ third regular-season international game, following previous appearances at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2016 and 2019.
The 2026 International Games slate includes a record nine overseas matches. Other confirmed fixtures include the Baltimore Ravens facing the Dallas Cowboys at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium in Week 3, the New England Patriots meeting the Detroit Lions in Munich in Week 10, and the Minnesota Vikings visiting the 49ers in Mexico City in Week 11. The full Cincinnati Bengals regular-season schedule is scheduled for release at 7:30 p.m. ET on 14 May.
Tickets for the Madrid event are available through On Location, the NFL’s official hospitality provider. Packages start at $1,095 per person and include premium seating, fan parties, roundtrip airfare, and hotels. General ticket sale information has not yet been announced. The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid CF, underwent a reported $1.9 billion overhaul unveiled in 2025, featuring a 360-degree video scoreboard and a retractable roof.
Travel logistics for fans present challenges, as the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) does not currently offer nonstop flights to Madrid. Third-party booking sites list fares starting at $826 for flights departing 7 November 2026, primarily serviced by American Airlines, United, British Airways, and Delta. These routes typically involve at least one stop and take approximately 10 to 15 hours.
Madrid, the capital of Spain, has a population of 3.48 million and serves as a hub for government, finance, and tourism. Weather conditions in November are typically mild, with average temperatures ranging from 42.8 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The city experiences its highest rainfall in October and November, according to U.S. News & World Report and Encyclopedia Britannica.
